Bard

This page is about the class. For other uses, please see Bards (disambiguation).

The Bard class, introduced in the year 350 AF, is like no other class in Achaea. Ralph Mercadia (born Sarapin 5, 264 AF), a singer and performer, learned the songs of Scarlatti during a casual festival of the arts. The God of the Arts encouraged him to continue to develop the lyrical ballads and melodic skills of the Bard. Ralph's labour led to the formation of both the Bard class and Bards Guild. With the introduction of auto-class and Houses, the influence of bards spread out beyond Cyrene, the city where the Guild was based. Despite this freedom, many Bards still join House Ty Beirdd, where they eagerly pursue an artistic lifestyle.

Bards may be swashbuckling adventurers, contemplative wordsmiths, or raucous performers. Regardless of the path they choose, they all share a love of music and the written arts in all their forms. This focus on creativity must not be mistaken for a careless attitude towards life, however. Though it may seem strange, a bard has perfected his voice and body to such a finely honed edge that a skilful one can stand his ground against even a fully-armoured knight.

The Bard skills are of two distinct kinds: physical and musical. The musical skills involve singing, chanting, and other voicecraft as well as tunes played with instruments, either alone or with other bards. The physical skills are those of the dashing rogue: leaping from treetops, duelling with a blessed rapier, acrobatics to let you both attack and escape attack, and so on.

A fledgling Bard possesses the skills of Swashbuckling and Voicecraft, gaining Harmonics upon embracing class.

Abilities in Battlerage

Moulinet	Slash your opponent with a long, looping cut.	Level: 6
Syntax:	MOULINET <target>
Required:	14 rage
Channels:	{{{channels}}}
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Works against:	Denizens
Cooldown:	16.00 seconds
Attune Effect:	{{{attune}}}
Symbol:	{{{symbol}}}
Details:	The moulinet is a circular cut, using the wrist to quickly slash down the length of your target's body.
Note:	{{{note}}}

Trill	Your opponent's psyche is no match for your voice.	Level: 10
Syntax:	PLAY TRILL AT <target>
Required:	28 rage
Channels:	{{{channels}}}
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Attacks:	{{{attacks}}}
Works against:	Denizens
Cooldown:	41.00 seconds
Attune Effect:	{{{attune}}}
Symbol:	{{{symbol}}}
Details:	A high-pitched chant that will make your target forgetful for a short time. Gives affliction: Amnesia
Note:	{{{note}}}

Resonance	Shatter a denizen's shield with your voice.	Level: 20
Syntax:	PLAY RESONANCE AT <target>
Required:	17 rage
Channels:	{{{channels}}}
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Transitions:	{{{transitions}}}
Attacks:	{{{attacks}}}
Works against:	Denizens
Cooldown:
Attune Effect:	{{{attune}}}
Symbol:	{{{symbol}}}
Details:	Use your rage and the pitch of your voice at exactly the right frequency to resonate with a denizen's shield, causing it to shatter.
Note:	{{{note}}}

Howlslash	Voice and blade, working as one.	Level: 35
Syntax:	HOWLSLASH <target>
Required:	36 rage
Channels:	{{{channels}}}
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Attacks:	{{{attacks}}}
Works against:	Denizens
Cooldown:	23.00 seconds
Attune Effect:	{{{attune}}}
Symbol:	{{{symbol}}}
Details:	Use the power of your voice to distract your target before attacking with a vicious strike.
Note:	{{{note}}}

Cyclone	Repeatedly slash your target as you spin.	Level: 50
Syntax:	CYCLONE <target>
Required:	25 rage
Channels:	{{{channels}}}
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Transitions:	{{{transitions}}}
Attacks:	{{{attacks}}}
Works against:	Denizens
Cooldown:	23.00 seconds
Attune Effect:	{{{attune}}}
Symbol:	{{{symbol}}}
Details:	Spin in a tight circle, slashing out with your blade as you pass by your target. Opponents that are too stunned or clumsy to avoid the brunt of the onslaught will take substantially increased damage. Uses afflictions: Clumsiness or Stun
Note:	{{{note}}}

Charm	Lull your victim into serving you.	Level: 65
Syntax:	CHARM <target>
Required:	32 rage
Channels:	{{{channels}}}
Shapes:	{{{shapes}}}
Transitions:	{{{transitions}}}
Attacks:	{{{attacks}}}
Works against:	Denizens
Cooldown:	43.00 seconds
Attune Effect:	{{{attune}}}
Symbol:	{{{symbol}}}
Details:	A beguiling song that charms your victim, making it fight for you for a short time. Gives affliction: Charm
Note:	{{{note}}}

Related Artefacts for Bards

Artefact	Description
Artefact Rapiers	a blackened rapier: Dmg: 57; To-hit: 168; Spd: 238 An Eagle's Scream: Dmg: 60; To-hit: 173; Spd: 242 A Soulpiercer: Dmg: 63; To-hit: 184; Spd: 246
A glass rose	Doubles the length of time aria will stay active on a target.
A golden pendulum	Reduces the time between harmonics being called, and their arrival.
Silver tuning fork	Doubles the lifespan of harmonic.
A moon-and-star insignia	Cuts PLAYing time of harmonics in half.